I have been tattooing for many years now, and I have spoken with many different kinds of people from all over the world. The conversation are all generally the same catagories of Q&A. One thing that I can say is that I have noticed a couple of trends in the last 7 or 8 years.
One, there are alot more virgins taking the plunge. Kids coming in (by kids I mean 18 to 25ish) that have no ties to the tattoo world at all and wanting tattoos. Well, you might say that it is great for business, but with this great influx of youngsters diving into tattoos, there has been a big increase of them wishing that they had not got them 3 years down the road.
Of course, I always have a few things that I have to "preach" about when clients come in asking for certain tattoos. I guess it is just the "Mom" in me. These kiddos don't look like they belong in tattoo shops at all.
For example, a couple of cute girls came in one day. They were both 19, but looked more like 13. They looked like they had never been anywhere with any dirt, or had ever done any work at all. They had just got out of high school and were heading to college. One of the girls wanted me to put blue stars on her face around her eye, I am guessing the Kat Von D effect, and the other one was wanting me to put her boyfriends name in huge script tattoo across her neck. I guess, as a tattoo artist, I should just take the money and do the tattoos. I mean, really, what business is it of mine if I think that they are appropriate or not? But, I can't help it. Getting tattooed on your face, neck, and hands is a huge commitment. These are tattoos that you cannot hide from the world, unless you are wearing a burka or something. So, to sum it up, after a short conversation, the thought of college, career, divorce rate, yada yada, there was no tattooing for them that day.
The popularity fad of tattoos has sucked alot of people in over the last few years. I am sure alot of it is due to the media, and the shows making "rock stars" out of tattoo artist. But tattooing is not a simple fad that you can throw out or donate to Goodwill. It is a part of you for life. Even tattoo laser removal leaves scars, and does not return you to your pre-tattooed state.
So, when you are out with your friends or just got a new boyfriend/girlfriend and thinking about getting inked, just try to think down the road a few years. Where are you going? What are you going to do in life? How well is your relationship insured to last? A lifetime? Because that tattoo will almost certainly outlast you.
One, there are alot more virgins taking the plunge. Kids coming in (by kids I mean 18 to 25ish) that have no ties to the tattoo world at all and wanting tattoos. Well, you might say that it is great for business, but with this great influx of youngsters diving into tattoos, there has been a big increase of them wishing that they had not got them 3 years down the road.
Of course, I always have a few things that I have to "preach" about when clients come in asking for certain tattoos. I guess it is just the "Mom" in me. These kiddos don't look like they belong in tattoo shops at all.
For example, a couple of cute girls came in one day. They were both 19, but looked more like 13. They looked like they had never been anywhere with any dirt, or had ever done any work at all. They had just got out of high school and were heading to college. One of the girls wanted me to put blue stars on her face around her eye, I am guessing the Kat Von D effect, and the other one was wanting me to put her boyfriends name in huge script tattoo across her neck. I guess, as a tattoo artist, I should just take the money and do the tattoos. I mean, really, what business is it of mine if I think that they are appropriate or not? But, I can't help it. Getting tattooed on your face, neck, and hands is a huge commitment. These are tattoos that you cannot hide from the world, unless you are wearing a burka or something. So, to sum it up, after a short conversation, the thought of college, career, divorce rate, yada yada, there was no tattooing for them that day.
The popularity fad of tattoos has sucked alot of people in over the last few years. I am sure alot of it is due to the media, and the shows making "rock stars" out of tattoo artist. But tattooing is not a simple fad that you can throw out or donate to Goodwill. It is a part of you for life. Even tattoo laser removal leaves scars, and does not return you to your pre-tattooed state.
So, when you are out with your friends or just got a new boyfriend/girlfriend and thinking about getting inked, just try to think down the road a few years. Where are you going? What are you going to do in life? How well is your relationship insured to last? A lifetime? Because that tattoo will almost certainly outlast you.
